A sex offender who breached his restrictions by exercising on school grounds has been locked up for nine months.
Laison Reihana King (34) appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday by video-link, having admitted twice contravening an extended supervision order (ESO).
Such orders are imposed to manage the long-term threat posed by high-risk sex offenders or very high-risk violent offenders in the community, and are monitored by Corrections.
King was released from prison in 2018, subject to a 10-year ESO — the maximum length for such restriction.
Judge Peter Rollo yesterday suppressed the specifics of the sex crimes that originally landed the defendant behind bars after counsel Andrew Dawson argued his client’s time in jail would be adversely affected should they be published.
The court heard King’s breaches, which came on consecutive days in January, came on the back of six previous slip-ups.
First, the defendant arrived home 20 minutes outside his curfew, having been repeatedly warned for his non-compliance.
The next day, King’s GPS tracker showed he had spent nearly an hour on the grounds of Balmacewen Intermediate School.
His conditions stated he was: “not to enter or loiter near any school, early childhood education centre, park, library, swimming pool, other recreational facility or church” without Corrections’ permission.
Mr Dawson stressed the incident had taken place during the school holidays so there were no children around.
He said his client had met a group for the first time to exercise and was unaware they would use the school grounds.
The breach of curfew, Mr Dawson explained, came as a result of King simply missing the bus.
He said the timing was a shame as the defendant was just about to start a job.
“It’s been two steps forward one step back,” he said.
The Otago Daily Times made an application to photograph King which resulted in him issuing an expletive-laden rant.
Such was his agitation, Corrections placed him in a holding cell and the sentencing was completed in his absence.
King’s ESO will runs until at least December 2028.
